Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1887-11-20
CONDENSING RAIN.
An Invention to Open the VIM
dOws of Heaven. and
Make the Deserts
Blossom Like

aDlllIy Ol tue ciSCItlC UiiOhb " thC
uses of society has been further
demonstrated by an invention which
has at least the charm of novelty.
This is nothing more OF less than a
patent to open the windows OF
heaven at the will of man, and
Michael Cahill, NJ. D., of San
Francisco, claims the honor of the
invention.
The doctor returned to that city a
few days ago from Washington,
where he went to secure a patent
and bring before the notice of the
government his strange continuance.
He was seen Wednesday afternoon
by a Chronicle reporter, to whom
he briefly explained the proposal
81 expect to see the sagebrush
| deserts of Nebraska and Nevada
under cultivation and affording
pasturage for thousands of cattle in
a few years." began the doctor.
"Should the Governor adopt my
patent, by its use there need not be
an acre of waste land on the whole
continent"
"By what extraordinary means
do you intend to tap the clouds and
interfere with the laws of nature %
inquired the reporter.
"Simply by a condenser or cap
tive balloon and an electric cable
placed wherever the rain is required.
1 have long believed that rain
could be produced by artificial
means, and / have worked at this
hobby of mine for several years,
ever since / left college, in fact.
You see, first of all, vapor, as it as
cends, receives heat from the solar
rays, which also impels it upward
until restricted by the cold. The
vlsicles or DEVELOPS being crowded
together, become electrified and
float in the air at an altitude of
from 1000 to 5 900 feet, and all that
is required then to produce rain is
to intercept these vesicles by arti-
fetal means. What l have in
vented in a condenser of peculiar
shape and construction, and con-
nected with tie earth by an cleo
trio cable. Whenever the vesicles
come into contract with the con-
denser or current they are broken
up and the water forced to the
ground in great rapidity. The
rain will be produced by the same
law as causes condensation on a
window pane. The surface of the
glass is covered with microscopic
points, and on becoming chilled
the layer of air next it falls, allow
ing the vapor to flow on to the
points and from thence to the
ground.
"You will require gigantic bal
loon for such a purpose, was sug-
gested.
ooh no. A condenser of about
200 feet in diameter will bring down
something like 5000, 900 gallons q
day, or as much as would irrigate
almost the half of this State. The
volume of water can be devised OF
formed into rivers, whichever may
be desired"
"What will be the cost OF erect
ing and fitting up one of these con-
densers
1.-The condenser will be of spec
tally prepared iron, and 1 have re-
ceived an estimate from we'll
known manufacturer, who places
the coast at $500; another $500
would easily fit it up"
! "What are the opinions of ex-
perts on the matter, doctor?''
"Well, when l brought my plan
before them at first they were most
ly skeptlcal, but have got great
many of them round since. While
in Washington | submitted it to
the Meteorological Department,
where | am well known, and to the
heads of the Geodetic Survey, and
both believed 1t to be practicable
indeed, the former body sent an